MURPHY: LION WILL ROAR
JOCKEY Oisin Murphy believes Investec Derby second favourite Roaring Lion can cope with the challenges of Epsom despite questions over his temperament and stamina.
The 11-2 shot’s four-and-a-halflength win in the 10-furlong Dante Stakes at York persuaded trainer John Gosden and owner Sheik Fahad to head to Epsom and race over a mile and a half for the first time rather than run at Chantilly in the shorter French Derby.
It was an improved performance for a colt who had been a disappointing third on his comeback at Newmarket in the Craven Stakes.
But the grey again showed a tendency to hang left in the finish at York, just as he did when second to Derby favourite Saxon Warrior in last season’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and when he ended up racing alone on the stand’s side rail when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
‘He certainly improved from the Craven Stakes to the 2,000 Guineas and he probably stepped up again from there to the Dante Stakes,’ said Murphy. ‘He felt a very professional horse at York and hopefully he will improve again.
‘He is maturing all the time. I’d be pretty confident he is not going to give me any bother. He is a bit of a playboy but he finds his work very easy so that is a positive.’
On the stamina issue, Murphy, Sheik Fahad’s retained jockey who is riding in his fourth Derby, having finished fifth on Red Galileo in 2014 and Benbatl last year, added: ‘You never know until you go and try it — Aidan O’Brien always says that — but Roaring Lion is quite relaxed and is by a sire who produces mileand-a-half horses in America.
‘The fact that he is so laid back will give him an opportunity of staying 12 furlongs. It’s a jockey’s dream to have a ride in a Classic and to have a chance in one is a big thrill.’
Meanwhile, O’Brien will decide this morning whether he can run second favourite Magical in Friday’s Investec Oaks. The filly knocked a joint yesterday and was receiving treatment to reduce the swelling.
While Epsom missed the worst of the storms, 8mm of rain had still fallen on the track by late afternoon leaving the prospect of soft patches this morning.